How one central Ohio candle maker embodies the state’s entrepreneurial spirit

We frequently make mention on this blog how local entrepreneurs are the backbone of our state, stimulating economic activity and employing hard working Ohioans through their small businesses. There are few small businesses that better embody this ideal, and how the entrepreneurial spirit can benefit hundreds, if not thousands, of other people than Candle-Lite Company.

The rural central Ohio town of Leesburg is home to no more than 1,300 people. While that certainly makes for a close-knit community, things get even closer when you consider that nearly half of this farming town’s population — approximately 600 residents — are all employed by the same company. For 175 years, Candle-Lite has been manufacturing candles that it then sells to over 40 national retail chains, such as Walgreens and Wal-Mart. The company’s 900,000-square-foot manufacturing facility produces about 250 million candles per year, which are then packaged and prepped for delivery.

As you might imagine, a company with that long of a history and that big of a workforce has become an indelible staple of life in Leesburg. Not only does the business boast a high retention rate — with many of its employees having worked there for over 20 years now — but, as CEO Calvin Johnston tells CNN, “[Some] employees have second or third generation family members working by their side.”

But Candle-Lite is more than just a job creator for Leesburg residents. A report published by the University of Cincinnati last month determined that, in addition to the 600 jobs in Leesburg, Candle-Lite’s business operations are responsible for creating another 1,200 jobs all throughout Ohio — an impact that accounts for $337 million in statewide revenue every year.

Since it first opened its doors in 1840, Candle-Lite has time and again proven itself as among the best of Ohio’s entrepreneurs. If you’re a similarly ambitious Ohioan looking to expand your business into a lasting legacy, one that employs other Ohio residents and has a profoundly positive impact for the state’s economy, consult with Growth Capital Corp. today! Our SBA Community Loan Advantage program and other small business loans may be just the financing you need to expand your company into the next Candle-Lite.